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Description by OLDIES.com:

Boris Karloff was to the Horror Movie what Fred Astaire was to the Musical: The epitome of class and style. No matter how grisly the circumstances, he'd rise above them with talent, poise and even charm. And here, for the first time on DVD, are four of his finest chillers from his peak years in the 1930s and '40s, all demonstrating his amazing range.

The Black Room (1935): In a tiny European nation, a baron has fathered twin sons - Anton and Gregor - but a local legend has it that one will someday kill the other, so Anton is sent into exile while Gregor remains. Decades later, Gregor has become a tyrant; sensing revolution in the air, he summons Anton back to take over. But is that really what he has in mind?

The Man They Could Not Hang (1939): In the first of his celebrated "Mad Doctor" series, Karloff is Dr. Savaard, a scientist who has perfected a device to revive the dead, which comes in handy when he's wrongfully arrested for murder and hanged. Resuscitated by his loyal assistant, he now heads out to seek vengeance on those who condemned him and his remarkable discovery.

Before I Hang (1940): In the third of his "Mad Doctor" chillers, Karloff is Dr. Garth, a scientist who has perfected a serum to prevent aging and death...which does not come in handy when he's wrongfully arrested for murder and sentenced to life imprisonment. To make matters worse, it also turns him into an unwilling killer! Evelyn Keyes, Bruce Bennett, and Karloff's legendary Frankenstein nemesis Edward Van Sloan co-star in this clever and exciting thriller.

The Boogie Man Will Get You (1942): Karloff stars in this delicious spoof about a scientist who has perfected a device to turn ordinary men into supermen. Only problem: It doesn't work - and he's now got a cellarful of corpses! Peter Lorre, Larry Parks, Miss Jeff Donnell and "Slapsie Maxie" Rosenbloom head a cast full of top character actors in this merry romp.

Product Description:

This collection features four films starring horror icon Boris Karloff, including THE MAN THEY COULD NOT HANG, THE BLACK ROOM, BEFORE I HANG, and THE BOOGIE MAN WILL GET YOU.

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Movie Lovers' Ratings & Reviews:

Less common Karloff--but still well worth the money!
Movie Lover: George Willeman from
Culpeper, VA US -- May, 25, 2009

These four films show Boris Karloff in different guises--as twins, one good one evil in "The Black Room" and as variations of Mad Scientist in the other three."The Black Room" is a highly entertaining little yarn, somewhat aping the look of the Universal horror films. Karloff's double turn is great, but as the evil twin, he just has much more fun than is legal!Both of the "Hang" movies are interesting moralistic tales, with one even dealing with the idea of an artificial heart!"Boogie Man" is hands down one of the strangest and most surreal of any Hollywood horror-comedy. Riding on the heels, no doubt, of Karloff's appearance in the stage version of Arsenic and Old Lace," this film contains the same wacky graveyard humor of the classic play. Plus, you've got Peter Lorre talking to the kitten he keeps in his pocket! Get this set before its too late!

If you are a fan of the old horror classics which featured Kharloff and others of the genre in that 30s 40s era, you won't be dissappointed here. Four excellent entries at a fair price. 'The Black Room' kicks it off and is possibly the best, and most impressive not only by way of it's really great story line, and Kharloff's excellent duel character performance, but it's big budget look. The period sets, costumes, etc. all within an early 18th century tale of evil and murder, all give it the feel of one of the great literary classics, such as stories brought to the screen based on Dickens for example. Certainly one of Karloff's best film performances, though there were so many. "The Man They Could Not Hang',and 'Before I Hang, as the titles indicate are to some degree variations on the same theme, but each different enough to make them equally enjoyable without you feeling the one a repetition of the other despite the similarities. The third, appropriately the last of the four, "The Boogie Man Will Get You,' like the 'Hang' stories has B.K. as a brilliant if unorthodox doctor experimenting with life and death, and longevity, but this time for laughs. Highly recommended package deal.